Wilco: Wilco (The Album)

CD Review

Wilco (The Album) hit shelves June 30 and is a necessity for
Wilco lovers old and new. The record doesn't provide listeners with
anything truly groundbreaking but instead is more a blend of their
recent material with sounds from their distant past. Wilco (The
Album) is definitely closely related to the band's previous record,
Sky Blue Sky. However, some of the refined, smoothed musical
character has been exchanged for reminiscent glances toward the records
of the last 10 years. Remarkably, though, the band does this without
crushing the creative spirit that has marked their music.

Wilco (The Album), perhaps unsurprisingly, opens with "Wilco
(the song)." It is a toe-tapper. However, you may be left disappointed
that they would stake their band name on such a radio-friendly song
that isn't even long enough to see the three-minute mark. "Bull Black
Nova" drizzles listeners with cosmic splotches of guitars and keyboards
that accompany Jeff Tweedy's anxious lyrics. The song climaxes to mild
cacophony gelled with a bass and drum pedal point. Strange resemblances
to "Spider/Kidsmoke" from the album A Ghost is Born are in
there, too. Any ears left strained from the previous will likely take
refuge in the soothing next track, "You and I," which features a guest
appearance by singer-songwriter Feist from Broken Social Scene. It's
easy to sing along with Tweedy during "You Never Know" as he
charismatically professes his feelings of blatant apathy about some
common trends and views of every generation. This song is among the
ones that have permeated radio waves and given the public a taste of
what's to come.

At the end of the record is a hidden track that certainly shouldn't
be missed. The song is bound to take listeners back to Wilco's previous
years. It's a melancholy, nostalgic and yet charming way to close the
album. Although they will be spending time out West, sadly, it appears
Wilco will not be coming through Boise this time around.